the young Rajah quickened their steps across the
parade-ground, dotted now with fallen Malays, wounded and dead in the
final _melee_; and Captain Down uttered a groan as he ran to grasp the
hand of his chief, who took a step or two forward by the help of his
blunted and rusted sword, while the relics of the defenders stood round,
cheering hoarsely and feebly, and trying to cheer again, but breaking
down in the effort and lapsing into silence, each man craning forward
eagerly to listen to what was said.

"We had no messages, sir, from headquarters, or we should have been back
long before. All we could gather was that the Rajah was fleeing before
us; and Durham was told the same. Here--the Sergeant too. He was led
on and on by people who showed him the tracks of Suleiman's elephants,
and--"

"No more--no more," said the Major hoarsely. "I knew you'd have come,
and that there must be some good reason. I thank Heaven that it was no
worse, for in my despair I was ready to agree with my true comrade here,
Sir Charles Dallas, that each detachment had been led into some trap,
and my brave lads slaughtered to a man. As you see, we have had pretty
well to fight to the death, and I'm too weak and ready for the Doctor's
hands to grasp everything. I want to know, though," he added feebly,
"how it is that this brave little native force came to us at the last
pinch and turned our defeat into a victory."

"What! don't you know, sir?" cried Captain Down excitedly.--"Here, Rajah
Hamet, speak for yourself."

"Rajah Hamet!" cried the Major and Sir Charles in a breath; and the
young man took a step forward as the group of officers drew back to give
him place.

"Oh, don't say anything, Major," said the young man, smiling. "I have
always been your friend, but, somehow, your caution and the malignant
lies and jealousy of an old enemy made you distrust me. But there, I
remember a Latin saying at my English school. It was, to speak no evil
of the dead."

"The dead!" said Sir Charles, who looked startled.

"Yes, sir, of the dead--the man who plotted to rob me of my country, and
make you believe in him and mistrust me."

"But you said dead," cried Sir Charles, who spoke with difficulty, as he
supported a wounded arm with a bleeding and roughly bandaged hand.

"Yes, sir. Rajah Suleiman died bravely in his final charge."

"Are you sure of that?" said Sir Charles excitedly.

"Yes, sir; I saw him fall. But one word, Sir Charl